Letter to Members
Fixing Michigan's dropout crisis must be one of our highest priorities
The Michigan high school dropout problem
is real and cannot be ignored any
longer.
That’s why MEA is taking the lead to address the problem by sponsoring a series of public hearings across the state in search of sustainable solutions.
This crisis impacts all of us. The scope of the problem is immense.
An estimated 20,000 Michigan students drop out of school every year, Nationwide, the number of dropouts exceeds 500,000 annually. This exacts a tremendous personal toll on students and their families—and on the economy as well.
Every year that passes without a solution to Michigan’s dropout crisis robs another $2.5 billion from local, state and national coffers. In fact, Columbia College researchers find that boosting high school graduation rates would save $127,000 per new graduate in extra tax revenues, reduced costs of public health, crime and justice, and in decreased welfare payments.
The public hearings MEA is sponsoring in partnership with other education groups are part of a statewide initiative to increase the number of high school graduates to stabilize a weak economy.
We realize there will be no quick fix. One thing that’s apparent after our first few public hearings is that we’re dealing with a complex problem that will demand comprehensive solutions. Just as there are multiple reasons why students drop out, multiple solutions will be needed to fix the problem.
One positive from the hearings is that we’re bringing together key stakeholders— the education groups, community and business leaders, parents, MEA members and students—to discuss the problem and identify solutions.
We will share what we learn with the public, the Legislature and Gov. Jennifer Granholm with the goal of adopting meaningful reforms to end this crisis. The hearings are scheduled to lead up to the Michigan Dropout Prevention Leadership Summit in Lansing on Oct. 20, where our findings will be officially released.
No longer can society afford to treat dropouts as throwaway students. We must make a stronger effort to keep them in school. We must make solving the dropout crisis one of our highest priorities. We’ve said it before, but one dropout, indeed, is too many.
For more on the public hearings taking place between now and October, and other information on the dropout crisis, go to www.mea.org/dropouts.